.png)
100 signatures reached
To: SA Nutrition Congress, Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA), Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA).
BAN BIG FOOD FROM THE NUTRITION CONGRESS
It is a clear conflict of interest, allowing big food companies like PepsiCo, Unilever, and Danone to sponsor and exhibit at the nutrition congress. These companies produce ultra-processed foods (UPF), which pose a major threat to nutrition and health..
- We call on Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA) and The Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) and others involved with the SA Nutrition Congress to announce that no companies connected with UPFs will be allowed to sponsor or exhibit at future congresses or events.
- Issue an apology for allowing industry to participate in congress.
Why is this important?
The public looks to health professionals and practitioners to act in the public interest. What message does it send to the public when we give food businesses a platform to legitimize and promote ultra-processed foods at a nutrition congress?
The Nutrition Congress is supposed to be an event that brings together nutrition experts across South Africa and beyond to present research and discuss practical solutions to global health challenges. We cannot allow businesses that contribute to these health challenges to sponsor the event. In South Africa alone, 79 people die daily due to diet-related NCDs. For most of these people, this is due to what they eat and drink. Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA) and The Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) cannot convene to combat such issues with an industry that continues to contribute heavily to these health issues.
We applaud the National Department of Health speakers and representatives, and other conference participants for speaking out against the presence of the ultra-processed food industry. We wholeheartedly agree, their presence is a major conflict of interest.